My Ambition 19

 

Chapter 2 

I used Caleb’s money to rent a small apartment, deliberately bought a new laptop to throw out some fake intel and feed Rex’s 

surveillance. 

I knew that in a week, Meridian Logistics would get hit with a scandal about shipping illegal goods. Stock would tank. 

This was my rebirth advantage-information he couldn’t possibly have. 

Everything was going according to plan. 

practically had a stopwatch running, dumping all my money in the second before the scandal broke. 

But the stock price didn’t crash like it was supposed to. 

nstead, some mysterious buyer kept propping it up. 

Staring at my screen, my eyes went wide. 

fucking knew it! 

Damn Rex, you sneaky piece of shit-you’re way worse than I thought! 

Suddenly, my phone rang-Rex’s number. 

I took a deep breath and picked up. 

Maddie, did you really think leaving me meant you could suddenly grow wings?” 

His voice was dripping with mockery. 

You think those little tricks of yours could fool me?” 

I knew something was off about you a whole week before our divorce. You think that new laptop you bought could hide from the racking software I had installed?” 

Every keystroke, every stock you looked up-it all gets sent straight to my email.” 

The bait I put out there, and you actually bit. Pathetic.” 

My blood ran cold, but I kept my voice steady: “I see.” 

All that revenge rage had made me sloppy, but I wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. 

‘You think Caleb Steele gives a shit about you?” 

“He’s just using you like an attack dog to bite me.” 

“When he gets bored, guess what happens to you?” 

I didn’t say another word. Just hung up. 

The apartment went dead quiet. I stared at those red numbers on my screen, but my mind was crystal clear. 

Rex, you think you’ve got everything under control? 

Nah, this is exactly what I wanted. 

Right then, my landlord called, sounding pissed. 

“Ms. Windsor, I can’t rent to you anymore. You need to be out today.” 

“Why? I signed a year lease.” 

“Mr. Donovan bought this whole building. Says he doesn’t want to see you anywhere around here.” 

My hands and feet went numb. 

He was trying to corner me completely. 

No money, nowhere to live. Like a stray dog. 

I had to make the call I really didn’t want to make. 

‘Rex, my stuff is still at the house. I’m coming to get it.” 

‘Sure thing,” he laughed into the phone, “come crawling back and BEG me.” 

Half an hour later, I was standing outside what used to be my home. 

The door opened, and there she was-Rex’s new toy, some college girl barely out of her teens. 

She’s wearing MY silk robe, looking at me like I’m dirt under her shoe, all smug and superior. 

Rex sat on the couch, sipping his coffee like he had all the time in the world. 

‘Look who’s back.” 

He glanced up at me. “Finally come to your senses?” 

‘Where’s my stuff?” 

‘Oh, that junk?” He pointed at some garbage bags by the door. “Right there. Grab it and get lost.” 

stared at those bags holding ten years of my life, felt like someone was squeezing my heart in a vise. 

The college brat giggled and snuggled up to Rex. 

‘Baby, she looks so pathetic. Like some stray dog kicked out by its owner.” 

Rex pinched her cheek, looking at her like she hung the moon. 

‘Babe’s got a point.” 

Then he stood up and walked over to me, towering over me like some kind of king. 

“Maddie, get on your knees and beg. Maybe I’ll feel generous enough to give you another shot.” 

All the household staff had their heads down, but I could hear them snickering. Like needles in my ears. 

Chapter 2 

My dignity-he ground it under his heel until there was nothing left. 

But I didn’t kneel. 

I just looked at him, calm as anything: “Rex, you’re gonna regret this.” 

He acted like that was the funniest joke he’d ever heard. 

“Bring it on.” 

I bent down, quietly gathered up those trash bags and dragged it out of that house that made me sick. 

Behind me, their laughter echoed off the walls. 

I dragged those heavy bags down the street with no clue where I was going. 

Evening fell, city lights came on, but not a single one was meant for me. 

I was trying to figure out where the hell I could crash for the night when my phone buzzed. 

Text from Caleb: [Come to the office.] 

I caught a cab to Steele Capital. 

The second I walked into Caleb’s office, he tossed a file at me. 

“Talk.” 

The file showed my fucked-up trades-I was down over three hundred K. 

“Rex found out,” I mumbled. 

“This is what I’m paying for?” 

Caleb sounded pissed. “Your info was garbage, you screwed up big time.” 

“Maddie, don’t test me.” 

All the emotions I’d been holding back all day almost exploded right then. 

But I kept it together. 

I looked him dead in the eye. 

“Come on, give me another shot.” 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” 

“Because I hate that bastard’s guts more than you ever could.” 

My expression must’ve been pretty intense, because Caleb stared at me for a long time. 

“That downtown lot goes up for bid in three days.” 

He finally spoke: “Your last shot.” 

Screw it up again, and you know what happens.” 

Walking out of Steele Capital, I felt like I was soaked in cold sweat. 

No more room for mistakes. 

I HAD to win. 

The next two days, I locked myself in this cheap motel room, going over every single detail about the downtown project from my past life. 

How did Rex know my moves ahead of time? 

Where did I mess up? 

I went through everything over and over, not missing a single clue. 

The night before the auction, it finally hit me- 

Rex’s assistant, Linda.